I have mentioned before that I hate all forms of exercise. All forms. My whole life people have been telling me that I will grow to like it, much like I have heard my whole life that I will learn to love coffee and beer. I find all 3 only become more distasteful as I grow older. But the thing about growing older is that your body starts to rebel on you. I spent the early part of my life up to my mid-twenties lamenting the fact that I only weighed 98 pounds and wore a size zero. You read that right, lamenting. I would like to travel back and slap that silly girl upside the head. Cause to be able to eat a whole pizza and chase it with a six pack of Taco Bell and still fit into a zero with room to spare sounds heavenly right about now as I suffer through my 100 Calorie Pita Chips.
Anyway, this body post two babies has seen better days. I could give Santa a good run for his money with that bowl full of jelly thing. And so I trudge to the gym and haul my buns on a treadmill to try and get things to head north back where they used to be. But even with some Beyonce Single Ladies spurring me on, there is no joy. And even if {insert favorite celebrity hottie here} showed up as my own personal trainer, I doubt I would enjoy going to the gym.
Except on Tuesday and Thursday morning. Cause that is when I head to Pilates. First of all, whoever invented an exercise where you get to lay down for a majority of the class is freakin’ brilliant. And although, I still have that muffin top, I have to tell you, underneath? Rock solid. Well, maybe not rock solid, but closer to a solid than a liquid. And after the class, I just feel strong. I feel like I stand up taller, like my belly is flatter and like I still have that 98 pound girl in there somewhere (I may have eaten her).
So if you are a little jiggly around the middle and hate exercise like the plague, check out a Pilates class. Make sure you get a teacher who really teaches you about proper breathing and technique or you are frankly wasting your time. You will be stronger and more flexible than you were before and that, as Martha would say, is a good thing. And you don’t even have to change out of those yoga pants you are wearing all day.
For more tips, head over to Rocks In My Dryer.
I think the last time I weighed 98 pounds was in 5th grade. Wish I was kidding. Oh and I was never a size zero. True story, I went straight from the kid’s section to wearing my mom’s size 8 jeans. It was the year I grew 7 inches. I just skipped right by sizes 0, 2, 4 and 6.
I want to try out pilates, but my gym has the nerve to charge extra for the pilates class. Cause I am not paying enough for my membership already.
I think that is enough of me complaining. . . for now anyways.
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i love pilates. i actually take a body flow class that is 1/2 yoga and 1/2 pilates.
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Twitter: marriedlife
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So, is this similar to yoga? ‘cuz I started that last month and I really like it!
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I’ve tried a Pilates DVD and it wasn’t pretty. I’m not at all coordinated and spent more time focusing on what I WASN’T supposed to be moving instead of moving whatever I was supposed to be moving. That’s why I walk instead… I haven’t fallen yet. But I’m glad it works for you!
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How encouraging! I’ve checked out 3 pilates’ DVDs from the library. Hope to use them today!
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I tried pilates once and enjoyed it…but then never went back for some reason…I really do need to stick with an exercise plan…
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i think i hate you now…for the whole size zero thing.
i’m the chick that laughs at the skinny chicks that get fat after kids.
which, of course means i’m doomed to need the Biggest Loser once i pop out a couple.
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Thanks for giving us a real update on exercise! I was like you 98lbs all the way through high school in fact, I had to “EAT” alot to fit into my wedding dress at a whopping 105lbs. lol…oh how I miss those days!!
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I was witness to your 98 pound days. Do not wish them back!! You needed a litlle more meat on your bones. Hasn’t advertising and the whole “size” thing done a number on us? Yes, be healthy–which doesn’t necessarily mean rail skinny. I love pilates, too, cause I get to take them with you!
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I used to do pilates BC (before children). I have a DVD somewhere… and one of those exercise ball thingies.
I remember really liking the back stretches.
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I’ve always been freaked out by the word Pilates, but you make it sound so enticing. I tried it once I seriously sucked at it. But, I guess that means I have lots of room to improve, so I should probably give it another try.
This post made me giggle…
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I did pilates during my last pregnancy- and it really helped. Also, flexibility and strengthening helps out with the 1 Corinthians challenge
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You are sort of convincing to try this after the baby, although after reading Beth’s post perhaps I should start this now so I have less jelly in the belly after the baby…
you have me thinking….
Toni
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Hooray for Pilates! For all the other commenters here who haven’t tried it, or have only done it once and felt terribly uncoordinated…it gets much better. The first couple of times you’re just trying to figure out what you’re supposed to do. Then once you know what single-leg circle or spine-stretch forward is supposed to be, then you can start concentrating on how to do them correctly.
Pilates takes a lot of focus, but that’s what I love about it. It requires me to be so tuned into my body that I CAN’T think about the baby/laundry/project that’s due tomorrow at work. It is true ME time and I always end a class feeling better than when I started.
So, if you’re new to Pilates, please give it more than one chance!
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I’m a Pilates believer, too! It works your core, so anyone who’s on the fence, the bottom line is that your back and stomach will be stronger than ever. You feel 2 inches taller after a session (at least I do).
It’s worth taking a “live” class or two before getting a DVD so that you’ll get a little more attention when you do the exercises and get your form down. And if anyone’s looking for some good DVDs, Jennifer Kreis and Karen Voight have really good ones.
–Melissa
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I use to do pilates before the baby and really should get back into it. It did wonders for by stomach. and I need wonders right now!!!
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Twitter: jubes
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After three C-sections, I do not have ANY strength in my middle so Pilates has always been an incredible struggle. Maybe I’ll give it another go . . .
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No matter what ones exercise plan is…once one consults their physician to see what may be the proper method of exercise for them…exercise can sometimes be a good thing…good but can also be boring…but good! LOL
By the way…I have given you an award over at my blog…
Have a good weekend!
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